September 14th- September 17th.

Arrived in Chiang Mai, funnily enough not at the coach station like we had been told, but luckily there is always a tuk tuk waiting to take you to their friends guesthouse for a really good price. Walked off from the people clamouring for our cash with 2 other travellers and eventually ended up in town in a sweat box hotel ironically called 'SMILE'.

Went and booked a trek for the following day, then decided we'd go and see the tigers park just outside of the city. We got there and met 2 tigers up close. Firstly we started with a baby tiger who was playful and cheeky. Then onto the big daddy, Declan got rowdy with the tiger and eventually beat it into submission, althought most of that happened in his mind. He claimed boastfully that after dropping Dave Ruane last week a tiger would be easy pickings. Got back and had a wonder around then hit the hay knowing we'd need our energy for the trek.

Trekking started early in the morning, however we had to take our bags a short walk up the high street to drop them off. Luckily it was only torrential rain at the time and many tuk tuks refused to take us. Great start to the day, sopping wet and hungry.

We met the group we would be trekking with, treks live and die by the quality of the group, we were actually lucky this time and had a good mix. A yank, 2 krauts, 2 Scots, 2 Aussies and a dutch couple, the man honestly looked like Brekvik!!!!!! Our guide called Ping Pong, quickly reassured us he was insane, offering us dodgy fruit with a lighter dangling out of his ear lobe then spending half the journey on the roof!!!

Got to the elephant section of our trek and only then realised we hadnt charged the camera. Had a lovely ride on an elephant who for some reason kept stopping and eating anything he saw. Then began our tumultuous trek up a mountain. At first it seemed really easy, Ping Pong was making things from leaves and fruit and the group was blending well. However as time went on it just kept getting steeper and steeper. It was so bad the dutch girl had to get a bike to the top, although maybe she was trying to escape her crazy partner with his wierd eyes. We both got bit to hell even though we were covered in spray.Half way up we stopped at a 7-1!!!!!! pretty much a women in a shed, with a bucket of pop.

Trekked for about 5 hours in total although we eventaully made it to the top had a few beers and dinner while PingPong entertained us with tales and riddles. Slept under a mosquito net in a bamboo hut.

Second day was the harder day, tired legs and even steeper paths down to the truck. Mel spent most of the time,skiing down the mountain on her arse, while Declan agile as ever lept from tree to tree.Stopped off at a Waterfall and Mel soothed her aching joints. Got to the bottom and then had our water rafting section of the trek, being a couple we were put with the Dutch!!!! Crazy eyes found iT hilarious that our side of the raft hit most of the rapids! Dried off and headed home.

The next day we booked to go on a tree top zipwire adventure. Mel's bites were infected so Dec did it alone, well there were the 3 screaming Chinese girls tailing him around. Zipping throught the jungle like a gibbon and freefalling 40ft only to be slowed at the last second was really fun. That night we booked our travel to the islands, where hopefully we'll both regain control over our calf muscles and the insects might leave us alone.................................................Highlights were the whole trek especially the top and the bottom of the mountain...........The Chiang Mai markets.....................cheaper drink than Bangkok.............